Instructions for resuming flights

Trump explained that, after a conversation with the Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, instructed U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and other officials—including military leaders—to reopen Venezuelan airspace to commercial flights by the end of the day.

“I just spoke with the president of Venezuela and informed her that we are going to open all commercial airspace over Venezuela,” he declared.

The president stated that this decision will allow U.S. citizens to travel to Venezuela “very soon” and safely, while also opening the door for Venezuelans residing in the United States to return to or visit their country of origin.

“U.S. citizens will be able to travel to Venezuela very soon, and they will be safe there, as it will be under very strict control. And people who previously lived in Venezuela, some want to return, and others want to visit, and they will be able to do so,” the president emphasized.

Radical change after years of tension

Air routes between the United States and Venezuela were flights have been virtually suspended since 2019, when several airlines, including American Airlines, canceled their flights following deteriorating relations and safety warnings from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). A notice issued by the FAA after the US military operation in Venezuela this month deemed Venezuelan airspace “potentially hazardous” due to military activity in the region, affecting civil navigation during overflight, arrival, and departure phases. As a result of this policy change,American Airlines has announced plans to resume its daily flights to Venezuela, although the actual reactivation will depend on approval from authorities and security assessments, Reuters reported. The last U.S. airline to operate connections between the U.S. and Venezuela was American Airlines, which suspended all its commercial air links in 2019. Relations with Venezuela are resuming. Trump's announcement comes amid diplomatic developments between Washington and Caracas after years of tensions that included sanctions, aviation security warnings, and the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro in a U.S. military operation in early January. Despite the announced reopening, the U.S. State Department maintains a high-risk travel advisory for Venezuela, citing dangers such as arbitrary detentions and kidnappings, meaning travelers should consider additional precautions.